Johnston County schools looking into revising bullying policy
NEW MODEL GUIDANCE ABOUT THESE
WEEKEND STORMS. OUR MORNING
NEWS STARTS AT 4.30. ON HOLD.
TONIGHT. SCHOOL LEADERS
POSTPONE MAJOR DECISION TO
CHANGE ITS HARASSMENT AND
BULLYING POLICY.
>> THE PROPOSED CHANGE WOULD
HAVE REMOVED THE TERM
ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY
FROM THE POLICY WRAL'S. AARON
THOMAS SPOKE WITH FAMILIES
CONCERNED ABOUT THIS MOVE AND
PUSHED FOR ANSWERS TO FIND OUT
WHAT PROMPTED THE CHANGE IN
THE FIRST PLACE.
JOHNSON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD OF
EDUCATION WAS EXPECTED TO TAKE
ACTION AND REVISING ITS
HARASSMENT AND BULLYING POLICY
BUT WANTS MORE TIME BEFORE
MAKING A FINAL DECISION.
BUT THAT DID NOT STOP PARENTS
AND SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
>> FROM VOICING THEIR CONCERNS.
>> YOU'RE SEATED TO SERVE EVERY
STUDENT, NOT SINGLE OUT A
SPECIFIC GROUP.
>> FIRED APPARENT SOUNDING OFF
AGAINST JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD
OF EDUCATION. THE EVENTUAL
DECISION COULD CHANGE HOW
BULLYING AND HARASSMENT OF
STUDENTS IS DEFINED. A CLOSER
LOOK AT A DRAFT COPY OF POLICY
CODE STRIKES OUT THE WORDS
ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY
CHANGE IS UNDER REVIEW.
>> IT WILL CREATE LOOPHOLES AND
CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE WHO DO
CHOOSE TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST
BULLY OR HARASS MEMBERS OF THE
LGBTQIA PLUS ANDY HARRIS FEARS
WHAT POTENTIAL CHANGES WOULD
MEAN FOR HER SON. OTHER
ADVOCATES FEAR FOR THE SAFETY
OF OTHER CHILDREN AND STAFF.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS
DIVISIVENESS NEEDED
TO HAPPEN.
>> BOARD MEMBERS ADDRESS THE
CURRENT POLICY ON THE BOOKS.
EVERY CHILD IN JOHNSTON COUNTY,
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> IS TO BE FREE OF BULLYING,
BULLYING AND HARASSMENT.
IT DOES NOT MATTER.
>> WE HAVE A STUDENT CODE OF
CONDUCT. WE ARE NOT GOING TO
TOLERATE. BULLYING OR
HARASSING.
>> ANYONE DURING A BREAK, WE
APPROACHED BOARD CHAIR LINDA
ANDREWS TO FIND OUT WHAT
PROMPTED A POTENTIAL CHANGE.
SO WE WANTED TO FIND OUT
EXACTLY WHAT PROMPTED THIS
POTENTIAL CHANGES FIRST PLACE.
LOOK AT IT. TAKE A LOOK AT IT
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING
WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.
PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
DEBATE FINDING THE BALANCE
BETWEEN ENSURING THE SAFETY OF
STUDENTS WHILE COMPLYING WITH
THE LAW. THIS MEETING WILL BE
OCCUPIED THURSDAY MORNING WHEN
MEMBERS OF THE POLICY REVIEW
COMMITTEE WILL BRING UP THIS
HARASSMENT AND BULLYING POLICY
ONCE AGAIN.